Lakers eliminate Hillsdale College men

Thursday

Mar 7, 2013 at 11:00 AM

By Ed Patinoed.patino@hillsdale.netALLENDALE — The season came to an unwanted end for the Hillsdale College men's basketball team.Hurt by turnovers and a slow start to the second half, the Chargers were eliminated in the opening round of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament with a 73-57 loss to the Grand Valley State University Lakers on Wednesday.Hillsdale finished the season 17-10 overall. Grand Valley State (19-8) advanced to this weekend's GLIAC semifinals at Michigan Tech.The Lakers opened the game on a 14-5 run, but Hillsdale fought back midway through the first half. A layup by Tim Dezelski and back-to-back 3-pointers by Tony Nelson and Anthony Manno gave the Chargers a 17-16 lead with just under six minutes remaining. Tony Peters answered with a 3-pointer for Grand Valley State, and the teams exchanged baskets and the lead down the stretch. The Lakers carried a 27-26 lead into halftime.Grand Valley State took command midway through the second half, using a 13-3 run that turned a four-point game into a double-digit lead. The Lakers eventually built a 60-43 lead in the second half.Manno and Brandon Pritzl hit 3-pointers late in the game to pull Hillsdale to within 11, but it was unable to get closer.Turnovers proved costly for Hillsdale. The Lakers forced the Chargers into 18 turnovers while only committing seven of their own. Grand Valley State held a 27-5 advantage in points off turnovers.Nick Washburn scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds in his final collegiate game. Dezelski added 11 points, five rebounds and four assists, while Manno scored 10 points. Pritzl finished with nine points.Five players scored in double figures for the Lakers. Peters had 15 points and five rebounds, while Breland Hogan also scored 15 points. Tyrone Lee had 13 points and Ricardo Carbajal scored 10 points and grabbed five rebounds. Ryan Majerle finished with 10 points.The Chargers lose both Washburn and Ryan Choiniere to graduation, but will return four starters and 12 letterwinners in the 2013-14 season. Hillsdale will also welcome Northern Illinois transfer Zach Miller, who sat out this season with an injury.